Surjadi revises budget upward by Rp 3.2t

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja proposed increasing the 1996/1997 city budget yesterday from Rp 2.9 trillion (US$1.26 billion) to Rp 3.2 trillion.

Surjadi said the revised budget, which raised the previously- approved budget by 7.63 percent, was possible because more funds were expected from city revenue, central government taxation and other sources.

The governor proposed the revised budget yesterday in a plenary council session.

"We expect to get Rp 1.87 trillion from city revenue, up from the previous target of Rp 1.83 trillion. I hope the target will not be disturbed by Mobnas," Surjadi said, referring to a recent drop in car sales because of the government's national car policy.

The governor said that although the car market was depressed, the city could still increase its revenue.

"Thank God we can still target more revenue from the vehicle sector," he said.

Car sales have fallen because potential buyers are anticipating a price war over the cheaper national car.

The chairman of the council's Commission C for finance, Helmy AR Syihab, said in August that in the first five months of the 1996/1997 fiscal year, revenue from vehicle registration fees was Rp 500 million short of target.

Vehicles registration fees contribute more to the city budget than any other revenue. Last year it contributed Rp 851.16 billion and this year it is expected to contribute Rp 1.04 trillion.

Governor Surjadi said that investment and international trade would increase in Indonesia, and that Jakarta as a capital city would take big slice of the action.

"Therefore it is important to create secure conditions in the capital, and build facilities to encourage investment," he said.

He said the city must increase its budget to pay for big future projects.

The land reclamation and subway projects should help the city compete in the free-trade era, he said.

The city has allocated an additional Rp 9.10 billion to improve human resources, raising the total human-resources component of its budget to Rp 165.92 billion.

"The funds will be used to train employees, to change their attitudes which may improve our service to the public," he said.

He said the city would train its employees by sending them to schools. (yns)